Stamp-inking device for etching machines



Nov. 1, 1927.

F. T. MAY

STAMP INKING DEVICE FOR ETCHING MACHINES Filed Marsh l0. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR FEEDER/CA -7.' My

ATTORNEY Nov. 1, 1927.

' 1,647,646 F. 'r MAY sTAMP mmm DEVICE Fon mcama MAcHINEs Filed March 1o. 192e 2 sneetslsheet 2 FIG- a i i: i INVENToR FREDER/c/f TMm/ L ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 1, 1927. i f

UNITED STATES 1,641,646 PATENT OFFICE.

THEODORE HAY, OF MONTCLAIR, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOB T 'WESTING- HOUSE LAMP COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

STAMP-IN'KING DEVICE FOR ETCHING MACHINES.

Application led March 10, 1926. Serial No. 93,572.

The present invention relates to the manufacture ofradio tubes or incandescent lamps and particularly to a device for printin upon the inner surface of the bulb thereo In the manufacture of articles such as radio tubes or incandescent lamps, it has been found desirable to mark or print upon the inner surface of the wall of a bulb.

A An object of the present invention is,

l0 therefore, .to provide a machine for the application of a stamp to the inner surface of a radio tube or lamp bulb in an automatic and ellicientmanner.

Another object of the invention is to rovide coordinating mechanical elements w 'ch will simultaneously apply stamp to a plu-J rality of bulbs.

Another object of the invention is to expedite the manufacture of lamps or radio tubes by providing means for automatically conveying and positioning bulbs in `opera tive relation to means for stamping a legend thereon.

Another object of the invention is to apply a stamp in an effective and rapid manner with a minimum amount of shrinkage.

Other advantages will be apparent as the description proceeds.

The bulbs upon which the present printing 3 device operates are those of the so-called tipless type, and the stamp is applied to the inner surface of the bulb with the printing member movable upon the longitudinal axis thereof. The bulbs are moved in pairs l5 intermittently into operative relation with a pair of printing members which operate in timed relation to a conveyor upon which the bulbs are movable. The machine indexes to position a pair of bulbs forthe stamping operation, other mechanism oplrlates to apply a suitable quantity of mar g composition to the printing portions of the stamping members, and at the pro er time the latter are caused to enter the bu bs, print upon the surfaces thereof and withdraw, permitting the printed` pair of bulbs to move and another pair to be positioned for the printing operation. Means are also rovided for discharging the bulbs from t e machine.

The invention will be more fully understood by reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a machine embody-y inthe present invention. vig. 2 is a side elevational view of the machine shown in Fig. 1, parts being shown in cross-section. L

F1 3 is a fragmentary view looking in the irection of the arrow X in Fig. 1 but showing the arm carrying the inking mechanisdm positioned to ink the printing members, an Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail view showing a portion of the inking device and the roller for distributing ink upon the disinvention is, of course,

tributor plate.

The present a plicable to various types-of machines, the one herein shown being adapted to handle bulbs as used for radio tubes. The machine may comprise a table 10 having a central shaft or pedestal 11 upon which a conveyor 12 'is rotatably mounted. The conveyor shown is in the form of a circular rack having 24 notches 13 to receive bulbs 14. Mechanism for causing a complete rotation of the conveyor in twelve intermittent movements is provided and comprises a modified Geneva or barrel cam member 15. This member is mounted on a horizontal shaft 16 and includes a slotted guide piece 17 adapted to engage with studs 18 provided with rollers 18 suitably positioned u on the under side of the conveyor 12. As t e member 15 rotates with the shaft 16, the guide picco `engages a roller causing it to traverse the guide 17, thus driving the conveyor 115 of a revolution. Mechanism to be presently described for performing the inking operation is also driven by its connection with the shaft 16. Any suitable mechanism may be employed for driving the said shaft and as shown a motor 19- is provided, having its shaft equipped with cone pulleys 21 connected by a belt 22 to cone pulleys 23 on a countershaft 24. This countershaft is provided with a worm 25 in mesh with a worm wheel 26 secured to the shaft 16, thus motion is translated from the motor to the shaft 16 and to the conveyor. Bulbs may be loaded to the machine at A and intermittently moved by means of the conveyor to position B at which station the printing loperationis performed upon the bulbs. Means for stamping or printing upon the inner surfaces of the bulbs may comprise a pair of printing members 27 and 28 mounted at the upper ends of rods 29 and 31 respectively. Each printing member may comprise a resilient pad-32 secured to one end of a 11 to 've a resilient contact of the printing durlng the printing operation.

The rods 29 and 31 are carried on a crosshead 36 having a ivoted connection 37 to an arm'38 which y1n turn is pivoted at 39.

A spring 41 having one end secured to the arm and its opposite end secured to the table serves to normally move the arm upwardly to carry the printing members in contact with the inner surfaces of the bulbs. For the purpose of causing a downward movement of the rinting members, the arm 38 is provided wlth a link 42 pivoted to the arm 38 at 43 and to a supplemental arm 44 at 45. The arm 44 may be rockable about a shaft 46 in a bearing 47 secured to the table 10. The supplemental arm 44 is rovidedI with a pro'ecting roller 48 engagea le with a surface o a cam 49 secured to and movable with the shaft 16. The cam 49 is of such configuration that a rotation thereon causes the arm 38 to move and lower the printin members below an inking device designate as a whole by the numeral 51. When the roller 48 is upon a concave surface 52 of the cam, the printing members engage with the inner surface of the bulb. lAs the cam rotates in the direction of the arrow X, and the roller reaches the surface 53, the printing members are moved below the surface of an ink distributing plate 54 ofthe inking device 51. A continued movement of the cam 49 causes the roller 48 to enter a depression 55 in the cam, thus permitting the printin members to makeeontact with the under sie of the distributor plate 54. The printing members are, however, again moved from contact with the distributor plate by reason of the cam vsurface 56 which engages' the roller 48, thus holding the inking members away from the late and ready to enter the bulbs and per orm the printing o eration. It will be obvious that before t e printing members can move upwardly, the inking device must be moved out from the path of movement of the printing members. This is accomplished by means of an arm 57 secured to a vertical shaft 58 and having the printing device mounted at the free end thereof. i A horizontal oscillatory movement is imparted to the arm' 57 by means of the cam 49 by reason of a roller 62 at one end of an arm 63 secured to lower end of the shaft 58. The various machine elements for operating the printing device and for moving the inking device are so proportioned that the cam depression `52 and the cam surfape 53 of the cam 49 serve as n the upper common means for causin the timed relative movement of (the. sai device. n

A movement of the cam l4 9 ycauses an oscillatory movement ofthe arm`63 which is normally held in contact 'with the cam surfaceby spring 64 secured to the arm and to the table 10. A movement of the arm 63 results in a similar movement of the arm 57 and the cam surface is so formed'as to hold the ink- `ing device in a position beneath the printing members when the same are in position to receive ink and to move the device outwardly from the machine vto the position shown in Fig. 1 when the printing operation isv being performed. As will be noted, the cam member 49 is provided with a slight depression 55 for the purpose of causing a momentary upward movement of the printing members when the roller 48l traverses such depression. Inasmuch as thevcam 49 is also'em loyed to move the roller 63 which actuates t e inking device, the effected `sur7 face of the cam 49 is only rovided with the depression 55 at one side t ereof sothat the roller 62 may traverse an even surface o f the cam and thus avoid being actuated by the said depression 55. Even though a slight actuation were caused by the passage of the of the arm 57 having an inclined surface 67 Ink issuing from the opening 66 is carriedfrom the inclined surface of the extension 67 across the plate 54 by means of a roller 67, resiliently mounted on the table of the machine and in the path of movement of the inking device. As the arm 57 moves the device to position for the application of ink to the printing members, the roller 67 is disposed in contact with the plate and carries ink from the a erture 66 .entirely across the plate 54. order to uniformly distribute the ink upon the plate 54, it is found desirable to intermittently rotate the plate and the same is, therefore, mounted on a shaft 68 journaled in the arm 57 and adapted to be rotated by means of a Eawl 69 and ratchet wheel 71. The ratchet w eel isA secured to the upper side of the plate 54 andA the pawl is carried at the end of a pin projectlng downwardly from an arm 72 secured to the shaft 68. The arm 72 is normally held todispose the pawl in` u Leg-eee table 10 and thus causes an actuation 'of the pawl and ratchet to move the plate 54 'a portion of a revolution, thusl always resenting a new surface to the inking mem rs and assuring the application of a` uniform,

springs 82 and 83 between. stop` 'plate and the extension thus' providing a' cushion for the stop plate upon the upper surface of the bulb.- The stop late 76 is held from downward movement y a center supporting rod 84 extending through an aperture in extension 79 and having a mit 85 to hold the'stop plate in proper position for engagement with upper portions of the bulb. The stop plate 76 is rovided with curved or flared ends and t e plate may be normally positioned. slightly below the top surface of the bulbs an'l thus be resiliently engaged thereby when the bulbs are moved to position for the inking operation. After a pai'r q'f bulbs have been stamped and the machine continues to operate, 'the vbulbs are moved through a heatzone 86 'created in the usual manner by burners 87. Y

'As the bulbs are moved to position C, means are provided for the disc arge from the machine.. A11 suitable mechanism may be provided for t 's purpose and the drawing illustrates a lifter 91 (see Fig. 2) reciprocable in a guide 93 and having a roller 94 at 'its lower end. The roller may be `normally maintained in contact with a cam 95 through the action of springs 96 being secured to a shaft 97 carried in suit- A ablebearing beneath the table 10. As illustrated, motion is transmitted to the shaft 97 by reason of its association with the shaft 16. The said connection may comprise a pair of `bevel gears 98. and 99. The lifter plate is arranged to move u wardly during each stationary stage of t e conveyor and thus lift a pair of bulbs to position for discharge from the notches 13. When so positioned, a jet of air projectedfrom nozzles 100 and 101 cause and effect a movement of the bulbs into a guide 102 which, is inclined downwardly, permitting .the bulbs to become disposed upon a belt conveyor 103. The air jets for discharging the bulbsmay be provided by connecting a supply pipe 104 with any suitable air pressure line (not shown). The conveyor or belt 103 may be driven by means of a chain the cam` said bulb.

drive comprising ajfsprocket wheel 105 and 'a shaft 106 .constituting part of -the conveyor and a sprocket wheel 107 secured to and rotatable with Athe shaft 97. The chain 108 which leads over the sprocket wheelsI 105 and 107 serve to ltransmit motion to the shaft 106 and thereby cause a movement of the cpnveyor to trans'ort lamps from vthe machine to any wsuitab e receptacle or to another machine for further operations. It will be evident that by reason ofthe present machine, bulbs may be stam dl with any suitable marking in any rapiifxiind eilicient manner. Although a practical embodiment of the invention is shown and described in connection with the marking of bulbs for radiotrous, it will be evident that hollow articles of various contour'may be marked or printed upon and that various modifications may be made in the machine without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Whatis claimed is:

1.'A bulb printing machine comprisin a conveyor for su porting a plurality of buis, a printing mem er, an inking device, means for reciprocating said rintin member for contact with a wall o a bul means for actuating said conveyor to successively .s ition. bulbs forl the entrance of said printing member therein for a printing operation and means for causing a relative moveinent between said printing member and said in king device to supply ink to said member with each reciprocatory movement thereof.

2.'A. bulb printing machine com rising a ,conveyor for supporting a urality of bulbs, a printing member, an i g device, means -for mov-ingsaid conveyor to position bulbs successively in operative relation to said printing member, means for moving said inking device yiii'to the path of movement of said printing member and a common means for actuating said lpriiitin member .for apphcation of ink thereto, an for moving said inking device to permit said member to make contact with the inner wall of a positioned bulb. l j

3. A bulb printing machine comprising a carrier for a plurahty of bulbs, a prin n iember, means for moving a bulb in position for the entrance of said printing member therein, means for moving said printing member a predetermined distance away from said bulb, an inking device, means forv positioning said inking devicev between said printing member and bulb, common means for actuating said printing member for application of ink thereto from said inking device, and for moving said inking device,

.and means for actuating said printing member to make contact with the inner wall of 4. A bulb printing machine comprising a l member away from said bu b, an in 'n device, common. means for actuating sai device to position the same in the path of,

movement of said bulb, and for causing a reciprocatory movement of said printing 1U member for application of Aink thereto, means for removing said inking device, and means for causing said printing member to make contact with the Wall of said bulb.

5. A bulb printing machine comprising a 1I printingmember, a bulb carrier, an inking device, means for causing a relative movement between said member and said inking device to apply ink to said member, means for actuating said carrier to position a bulb 20 for the entranceV of said printing member therein, and means forv actuating said member to make contact with the inner wall of said bulb.

6. A bulb printin machine comprising a 25 printing member, a ulb support, an inking device, means for reciprocatin saidmember throu h a given path to print upon the inner lwal of said bulb, common means operable during the movement of said mem- 30 ber in one direction to position said inking device in the path of movement of said inember for the application of ink thereto, and

remousl .ber for the application of in thereto 'and forcausing the movement of said inking device away from said member. p

8. A bulb printing machine 'comprising a 'conveyor for su porting a bulb, a printing member, means or reciprocating said member through a giverigpath, an inking device movable to and from the path of movement of said printin member and a common means for positioningsaid inking device in the path of movement of said printing member for application of ink thereto, for removing sai device and for causing a reciprocation of said rinting member.

In testimony w ereof, I have hereunto sibsscribed my name this 9th day of March, 1 2

FREDERICK THEODOR-E MAY. 

